Fr Hill celebrates 50 years as a priest

“Time flies when you are having fun”—those were the words of a Thornliebank priest as he looked back on 50 years in the priesthood last month.

Fr Gerard Hill has been parish priest of St Vincent de Paul’s Church for 13 years, but has worked in various positions as a priest in both the pastoral and academic worlds over the last 50 years.

December 18 was the official date of his anniversary, but he and his parishioners celebrated the occasion on Sunday December 16, incorporating the landmark date into the end of Mass.

Fr Hill was given a signed Celtic FC top from the parishioners to congratulate him on his achievement and the four local Catholic schools made a special appearance.

A varied vocation

Following the celebrations, Fr Hill explained the many roads the priesthood has taken him down over the years.

He said: “After I was ordained in December 1968 I went back out to Rome for a while to finish my studies in theology and was appointed in the cathedral when I came back, and then studied some more.

Afterwards I was based out in Pollokshaws at St Mary’s Church, and then went on to teach philosophy until 1979 when I was transferred to St Peter’s Seminary in Newlands.”

Fr Hill continued to lecture in theology until 1995, and came to his current parish in 2005.

“It was half-academic and half not,” he said of his time as a priest.

“It was great just getting my head down to work. When I turn 75 I’ll be required to put in for my resignation, and we’ll see what happens after that.”

Reflection

When asked if it feels like 50 years have passed since his ordination, Fr Hill said: “Certainly not, no. I suppose it’s true when they say: time flies when you’re having fun.”

Fr Hill and the parish community had enjoyed a special cake to mark his golden jubilee (above), where he also caught up with his sister, his cousin and their families who had come to see him for the occasion.

“I suppose you could say it was a fairly normal day for us all apart from the anniversary,” he said.

“It was nice and quiet. We don’t have a parish hall at the moment which is something we’re working on, so we decided just to have it at the back of the church, but it was a really great day.”